Ship propulsion



Jan. 13, 1931. P; pfl

' SHIP PROPULSION Filed Dec. 17, 1929 22 fife) Pref/Z INVENTOR/ Patented Jan. 13, 1931 UNITED STATES PETER PRELL, OF UNION CITY, NEW JERSEY SHIP PROPULSION Application filed December 17, 1929. Serial- No. 414,640. I

This invention relates to improvements in ships, particularly in the means for propelling ships, and it is the principal object of my invention to provide a system of locomotion by caterpillars having paddles and provided to both sides of the ships hull and also beneath the bottom thereof.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a ship adapted to travel in comparatively shallow waters with great speed.

The known types of ship propulsion using preferably screws in numbers are using the force developed mostly for water displacement on account of the great depth of the hull in the water, and moreover, the screws find comparatively little resistance in the water.

My system of locomotion by caterpillarsystems does away with these disadvantages I by allowing the hull to enter the water with comparatively small draught and consequently little water resistance to overcome and allowing the use of the ship in comparatively shallow waters.

A further object of my invent-ion is the provision of a means of ship propulsion combined with buoyancy tanks to balance the ship against overturning and capsizing.

These and other objects of my invention will become more fully known as the description thereof proceeds, and will then be specifically defined in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a ship constructed according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 4: is an end view of a modified form of my ship.

As illustrated, the hull 10 of a ship equipped has cabins on different levels or decks provided with windows 11, 12 and 13 respectively, and a deck house 14, a chart house 15 and rudder 16.

The ship is propelled by the following system of locomotion:

Spindles or shafts 17 pairwise extending from the sides of the hull are driven b any suitable machinery in the hull. The spindles carry at their outer ends sprocket wheels 18 over which theendle ss chains 19 are guided 7 provided at itsouter faces with paddles 20. Float tanks 21 are arranged between the caterpillar wheels and chains and tend to augment the buoyancy of the hull.

In Figure 4 a modification is illustrated ac- I cording to which a third system of locomotion 22 is arranged. running from fore to aft of the hull.

The operation of my device will be entirely clear from the above description and simultaneous inspection of the drawing, and it will be clear that the caterpillar system of locomotion will drive the ship with increased speed through the water, and the buoyancy of tanks 21 will prevent the ship from-capsizing and immersing too deeply into the water while allowing a use of the ship in comparatively shallow water. i

It will be evident that by suitable arrangement of the paddles the ship can be propelled on land and ice also.

It will be clear that the multitude of paddles on the caterpillar arrangement will impart to the ship a speed which is far greater and superior to the speed which can be obtained with the customary propellers.

The rudder 16 is preferably not immersed into the water but steers the ship in the manner of an aeroplane rudder.

I It will be understood that I have disclosed as an example of the many possible ways to practically construct my invention the preferred forms thereof only, and that I may 85 make such changes therein as come within the scope of the appended claim without doparture from the spirit of my invent-ion and the principles involved. I

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

A shallow draught speed boat comprising a hull, shafts arranged in pairs, and extending over the sides of the hull, sprocket wheels at the outer ends of said shafts, endless chains guided over said sprocket wheels, paddles on the outer'faces of said chains, float tanks between each pair of sprocket wheels for augmenting the buoyancy of the hull, a third system of locomotion below the bottom of the hull running from fore to aft thereof, said paddles allowing a propulsion of the ship on land and ice, and an an rudder.

In witness whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

PETER PRELL, 

